by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 12/18/2017 at 12:10
by "ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
Published 12/18/2017 at 12:10
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I’m struggling to come up with gift ideas for my 12-year-olds. On the weekends, they stay glued to their PCs, playing Destiny and Overwatch (or just staring at YouTube). They keyboards on the three kid PCs are a mix of old Apple and other shitty, cheap PC keyboards. So I thought it might be neat to get them “gaming” keyboards. But what does a “gaming” keyboard do that a regular keyboard doesn’t? Couldn’t I get off cheaper by just getting new, decent, regular keyboards?
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
12/18/2017 at 12:32, STARS: 1
I suppose the difference is key switches (choose based on preference) and easy rebinding of keys and hotkeys. Also RGB everything doesn’t hurt. I personally would go for a mouse or headset first but I really don’t know.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:33, STARS: 0
Well, they do bitch about the $8 mice that they are using. So that’s not a bad idea.
"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
12/18/2017 at 12:35, STARS: 0
Get them CSGO
Watch them get salty!
Proper gaming keyboard are mechanical keyboards: the key presses feel different. But imo just a good normal keyboard with some lights and stuff should be enough
Also, get a mouse is a much better idea as suggested
I had one
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:36, STARS: 1
I’m not crazy about them running around and shooting people as it is.
"TheRevanchist" (therevanchist)
12/18/2017 at 12:37, STARS: 0
Requirements:
1. Looks cool
2. Mechanical keys
3. Backlit for gaming in the dark (see no. 1 to ensure the backlight looks good)
4. Programmable keys
Don’t overthink gifts, just use expert help to keep gifts stress free.
"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
12/18/2017 at 12:40, STARS: 0
True that.
A good mouse will be better like Daily Drives a Dragon suggested
I had one
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
12/18/2017 at 12:41, STARS: 0
This is an impossible age to find good gifts for the kids. It’s that transition between toys and things that cost an arm and a leg. I’m not buying my kids guns (yet) or anything to do with gaming. I like to get them things they would not normally think of like a mermaid mummy bag or some bottle of hot sauce we can experiment with.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 0
That looks cool. They’d probably dig it. Thanks.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:51, STARS: 0
“RGB everything”
Can you provide a dad translation for that?
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 1
Damn. Those are expensive...
"Nibbles" (nibbles)
12/18/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 2
If they bitch about the mice, by all means get them some entry-level gaming mice. Hard to go wrong with Logitech and the G502 is probably going to be stupid cheap real soon.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
Thanks.
"sony1492" (sony1492)
12/18/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 2
A good mouse and or a pad(maybe one with wrist support)
"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
12/18/2017 at 13:05, STARS: 0
NP
"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
12/18/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 2
RGB as in LEDs. Trend in gaming is to make everything light up like tron.
"Biggus Dickus (RevsBro)" (NKlein)
12/18/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 1
Minibikes!
Get dem kids out in the garage on the weekends!
"Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]" (jarrettw)
12/18/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 4
Depending on how proficient the kids are with peripherals will determine your success here. If they’ve done some research already, you’re going to be in $150+ for a keyboard, or $80+ for a mouse.
Differences between normal keyboards and “gaming” keyboards.
1. The good gaming keyboards are mechanical, which are generally more durable, and are easier to type quickly on due to the improved feedback most of them provide. Like shifting an old truck vs shifting a sports car. There is also a limitation on traditional keyboards related to multiple key presses that mechanical keyboard don’t suffer from.
2. Macro keys
3. Aesthetic.
If I were buying a keyboard for me (a very avid gamer), it would have the following requirements:
1. Must be mechanical. I prefer cherry MX-Brown/Blue switches. MX-reds are supposedly the best for gaming. The different “switches” determine how much pressure is required to press the keys, and how far the keys must be pressed. Also determines the clicky-ness.
2. I like to have media controls on my keyboard. At least a volume wheel and a pause/play/skip button for music.
3. Back-lighting looks cool. Kids love cool things. RGB backlighting (Red, Green, Blue) lets you pick an infinite amount of colour. This one isn’t a requirement for me, personally.
Things to avoid:
1. Expensive, non-mechanical keyboards. It defeats the purpose of having an expensive keyboard.
2. Brands you’ve never heard of, and sound super edgy. Definitely thumb through reviews if you’re considering.
3. Mechanical keyboards that do not state what kind of “Cherry MX-[Colour]” switches they are. This implies they are using non-standard keys. The only exception is a Razer keyboard with green switches.
Other gamer ideas:
- Fabric mouse pads that are >1 square foot. (Steelseries makes many of them). They are relatively inexpensive, and you’d wonder why you never had one earlier.
- Mice. I need a least 5 buttons on mine + sensitivity changer. (Left click, eight click, click in the scroll wheel, and at least 2 thumb buttons). Logitech makes my favourite ones. (G502 is my current!). Again, you get what you pay for in this category, and much of the same logic above can be applied here.
This reply got to be a monster. Whoops.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
This is a fantastic reply, and I appreciate your taking so much time to type it out. Thanks!
"user314" (user314)
12/18/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 2
Wait, no insanely overdone HOTAS joystick for flight sims?
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 13:27, STARS: 0
Yeah, but for me, it would be the 1982 Tron.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
12/18/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
There are some really nice gaming mice out there. My favorites are from Logitech:
This is the non-gaming mouse I use every day:
It doesn’t have as many programmable buttons, but it works just about everywhere, even on our glass coffee table.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 0
Damn, that’s nuts. No, they don’t play any flight sims.
"Mid Engine" (jdlogan2006)
12/18/2017 at 13:57, STARS: 0
Sign ‘em up for sports, maybe start with swimming?
"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
12/18/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 1
If they do not have headsets you should get that first. A 5 or more button wired mouse will work fine if you are not a pro gamer $10-$25. I need to upgrade from an $8 mouse as well, I just went down the rabbit hole. For a keyboard something with a good feel that reacts quickly. I have not figured out the differences between the types of switches yet.
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
12/18/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 0
I have one of those as well. The only modification is that I had to open it up and cut all of the LED’s, they were just too bright. I also have their mechanical keyboard; it’s really loud, but feels satisfying.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
12/18/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
Gaming keyboards also allow for more buttons to be pressed simultaneously, which is actually useful sometimes. I like the board I have
because of the button layout, but sadly steelseries isn’t making these anymore. I don’t like mechanical keyboards because they are noisy as hell, sound like a typewriter.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
And everybody is saying to get a mechanical keyboard....
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 0
I was just at Fry’s looking at mouses. Seems I can do pretty will for not too much money. Hopefully, though, the extra money isn’t just for the buttons, with the same optics inside. I think that’s what sucks on the cheap mouses.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 15:38, STARS: 0
They already play soccer.
"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53)
12/18/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 0
Aah nice!
I lent it to my friend and got a death adder elite. Made a big difference in CSGO!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
12/18/2017 at 20:47, STARS: 1
How does the ttyymmnn household not have any flight sims?
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
12/18/2017 at 22:47, STARS: 0
Its honestly a preference thing. Some Most like them but they aren’t “better” per se unless you are MLG. It’s a tactile feedback thing, they “feel” well made and responsive. Your kids won’t notice the benefits really.
Some are worse than others. this video makes it not seem bad, but I can always hear my one friend’s through skype when mine is much quieter.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
If they play/do work at night it may become a problem
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 23:03, STARS: 0
Good to know. Thanks.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/18/2017 at 23:05, STARS: 2
My kids only like to kill things. Do they make an A-10 simulator? Actually, I’m sure they do.
"punkgoose17" (punkgoose17)
12/19/2017 at 09:00, STARS: 1
The 5 buttons are for functions, DPI is the sensitivity 3200 is a good home game level, 12000 is pro gamer level, your kid’s current mice are probably (800-1000), you will need to make sure they have fairly smooth mouse pads or the the mouse will be twitchy and not steady when they try to aim. (I ran into that problem last time I upgraded.)
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/19/2017 at 09:36, STARS: 0
Thanks for the info.
"Dogapult" (dogapult)
12/19/2017 at 13:00, STARS: 1
This isn’t actually a good suggestion, but gotta love Chinese sites that name themselves silly things, and also Chinese PCKeyboard manufacturers that don’t think about how their company name is romanized.
That site is 100% SFW. It’s literally a site for Chinese electronics.
(also, think about thatkeyboard. it’s white, it’s waterproof, its easy to clean...)
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/19/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
With kids, having a KB that is easy to clean is actually a good thing.
"Dogapult" (dogapult)
12/19/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 1
You’re not wrong. it’s not actually a particularly good gaming keyboard.
BUT
It has “mechanical
handfeel
”
(Which seems to mean its a membrane keyboard but feels like a mechanical one)
It has RGB lighting
It’s cheap
it has 19 keys conflict-free (which is pretty good)
and you know damn well 12 year olds would amused as hell that their keyboard said the name of that particular company on it like that.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/19/2017 at 16:58, STARS: 0
Meh. Let ‘em use the crappy KBs.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/19/2017 at 17:00, STARS: 0
Too late. Already bought something.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/19/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 0
Oh, well.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/19/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
Got something nice for Mrs. Ttyymmn, though. One of my former students is a big-time salesman at a local diamond store. He cut me a good deal.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/19/2017 at 18:02, STARS: 0
Nice. I haven’t said much to you about spawn-of-O.C.’s nuptials, beyond a mention. The date isn’t certain yet and Mother-of-OC will be in town and everything should be nailed down during Christmas Break. I hope Mrs. Tttyymmnn isn’t disappointed that I haven’t been more communicative.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
12/19/2017 at 18:09, STARS: 0
Our wives are talking. It’s all good.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
12/19/2017 at 18:16, STARS: 1
